Nicolai Højgaard’s preparations for this week’s DS Automobiles Italian Open might have been disrupted after his clubs went missing in transit but the Dane is still feeling right at home as he returns to the scene of his maiden DP World Tour title.
The 22 year old lifted the trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club two years ago, contributing to a historic double as he and Rasmus Højgaard became the first brothers to win in back-to-back weeks.
Højgaard was without his clubs for practice on Tuesday, after returning from competing in Mexico on the PGA TOUR, but later got the good news that they had arrived in Rome.
And the Dane was keen to look upon the situation with a positive spin as he hopes the memories of his win in Italy two years ago can help inspire him to mount a title challenge this week.
“I have played well on this course before so hopefully I can find a little bit of magic from 2021,” he said. “I am trying to draw on 2021 as much as I can.
“I remember last year I didn’t play well coming into Italy, but I actually had a good week, played some good golf so I know that I can play this golf course well without peaking.
“You always walk it and have so much going on but [on Tuesday] I had plenty of time to just almost go for a walk and see how other guys are hitting shots and playing it.
“It makes it quite nice to see how the course is playing.”
Nicolai is joined in the field at this year’s Ryder Cup venue by twin Rasmus as the pair look to showcase their talent in the first event held in Europe on the 2023 DP World Tour schedule.
Both brothers have recorded top tens so far this year in Thailand and Ras Al Khaimah respectively, with Rasmus making his third consecutive start as he continues his comeback from a shoulder injury that affected the early part of his campaign.
Rasmus registered a top 20 on his return in Japan but suffered a missed cut last time out in Korea and is hoping to see improvements in his game as he gets back into the swing of things.
“Obviously, health-wise I am not 100 per cent there yet but I have been doing some nice work over the last two and a half months, so it is getting there slowly,” he said.
“I have got my coach here this week, so we have had some good sessions trying to get the game sharpened a little bit.”
Marco Simone is staging Italy’s national Open for a third year running, with inevitable focus around the venue on the upcoming Ryder Cup, but Rasmus is trying not to look too far ahead.
“I think it is OK sometimes to dream [of making the team] about it but there is quite a bit of time left before the Ryder Cup,” he said.
“I am just trying to build some good habits and get back into playing and then we are going to see what happens this summer.”
As it stands, Rasmus currently sits at 12th on the European Points list and 21st on the World Points List, while Nicolai sits at 31st on the World Points List and 43rd on the European Points List.
